de miles



Pi DE MILESz.

ELECTRIC FURNACE,

APPLlcATloN FILED JAN. 25. 1918.

ll ,3 1 7,86 3 I Patented Oct. "Il, 1919.

UNITED s'rnrns naar i PAUL DE MILES, 0F NEVI YORK, LY. Y.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

. Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed January 25, 1918. Serial No. 213,652.

This invention relates to electric furnaces.

More particularly the invention is directed to electric furnaces of the crucible type, and

constructed to readily and .efficiently produce high temperatures.

A feature of the invention is the construction of the Crucible of suitable electrical resistance material,` electrodes therefor and means for maintaining the electrodes under pressure in contact with the resistance 1naterial. In the preferred forms of my invention the Crucible is mounted to be tilted or rotated, to facilitate discharge.

It is preferable to mount the furnace on the casing of the transformer in such- 4in,- stances where a transformer is utilized, as by, means of the provision of `spaced arms secured to the transformer casing.

Coolingv means for the electrodes, and also for the supporting arms, are also provided, when desirable. v

Further featuresv and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in whichigure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention, showing the' furnace mounted on a transformer casing; and*v Fig. 2 is a detail centralsectional View through an electrode.

Referring to the drawings, the furnace proper, as illustrated, is of the crucible type, comprising the Crucible proper, l, as of carbon or the like, having th'eupper opening 2, and preferably with the discharge lip 3.

The electrodes `4, 5, are secured to the opposite ends of the crucible 1 byineans of the abutments 6, 7 attached lto the respec tive electrodes 4, 5, and clamped' by lthe threaded connecting rods 8, 9 having the adjusting nuts 1 0to thereby holdfthe respective'V electrodes 4, 5 in good electrical contact with the ends of the crucible 1. Within the perforations of the abutments 6, 7, and surrounding the rods 8, 9, are disposed washers 1l of highly insulating' material to preclude leakage or short-circuiting of the electrical current. l

With a crucible of carbon and cast iron electrodes, l have been able to attain theV very high 'temperatures even in excess of 35000 F.

By the provision of the 'aforesaid pivot studs 1201i the respectivo abutments 6, 7.,

the Crucible may be vmounted in a pair of4v supporting arms 13, la.

A handle l5 is shown in the 'speciiic enrbodiment illustrated in the drawings, and

, .fixed-to one stud l2, extending beyond. the

arm 114, whereby 'the crucible may be tilted and the .metal discharged over the lip 3.

As one convenient form for the support .for the arms 18, 14, l have shown the same secured to and' extending upwardly over the casing 16, adapted to contain a transformer, A (not shown), the regulating arm of the resistance' or impedance of 'the transformer secondary being indicated at i7. rihe secondary terminals of the transformer, mythe service leads when a nontransformed circuit is employed, are indicated by i8, lil in which latter case the regulating arm li' would adjust the ohniic or impedance resist ance in the non-transformed circuit.-

Preferably, the respective electrodes et, 5 are cooled and for such purpose may be constructed hollow, with the inlet QG and outlet 2l, the former attached to the respeetiveinflow pipes 22, supplied by the water pipe 23, whereas the outlets 2l are respete tively connected to the discharge pipes 24. Such pipes 22, 24C are preferably flexible permit the furnace to be tilted, and of' esili cient length and of non-conducting material to preclude leakage or short-circuiting of the current. The arms 13, la supporting the electrodes and therewith the crucibleor furnace, are respectively suitahly insulated by Washers or rings 25 of electrically in# sulating material.

Whereas l have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it

will be understood that many changes and' prising electrically resistant material adapted to be respectively engaged by Said elec-- trodes, a plurality of spaced arms correed .to be respectively engaged by said electro'des,` a plurality of spaced arms correspondlng to said spaced electrodes, means for, rotatablysupporting said electrodes on said arms respectively, and means for exerting pressure on saidelectrodes respectively to thereby engage said electrically resistant material.

3. The combination of a plurality of spaced electrodes, a crucible wholly supported by said electrodes, -said crucible com'- prisin electrically resistant material adapted to e respectively engaged by said elec- .trodes,. a plurality of spaced arms corresponding to said spaced electrodes and respectively supporting said spaced electrodes,

Ameans for insulating said electrodes from -said arms respectively and means for ex- 'Ierting pressure on sald electrodes respectively to therebyv engage said electrically resistant material.

`4. The combination of a plurality ofl spaced electrodes, a crucible Wholly supported by said electrodes, said Crucible comprisin electrically resistant material adapt ed to be res ectively engaged ,by said electrodes, a p urality of spaced arms corresponding to said spaced electrodes and respectively supporting said spaced electrodes and adlustable common means for exerting pressure on said electrodes respectively to' thereby engage said electrically resistant material.

5; The combination of a plurality' of spaced electrodes, a cruc'ible wholly supported by said electrodes, said cruciblecomprising electrically resistant material, adapted to be respectively engaged by said electrodes, a plurality of spaced arms correspending to said spaced electrodes, means for rotatably supporting said electrodes on said arms res ectively, and adjustable commonmeans or exerting pressure on said electrodes respectively tdthereby engage said electrically resistant material.

6. The combination of a Ihollow furnace having a discharge outlet, said furnace comprising electrical resistance material, spaced electrodes in.electrical contact With said material, said furnace being Wholly sup-y ported by said electrodes, spaced arms,

means for revolubly supporting said electrodes on said arms and means for revolvin said furnace. p

The combination of a substantially cylindrical, cruciblc' furnace having a laterally disposed discharge outlet, said furnace comprising electrical 'resistance n'iaterial, electrodes, said electrodes being spaced from one another, mutually adjustable elements for holding said electrodes under pressure in contact With said material, spaced arms for revolubly supporting said electrodes and said furnace and means for revolving said furnace.

In testimony whereof` I have signed this specification this 22nd day of January, 1918.

PAUL vDE MILES. 

